Traction device and applying means therefor



E. F. MORGAN 2,746,507

TRACTION DEVICE AND APPLYING MEANS THEREFOR May 22, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1953 INVENTOR.

EUGENE F. MOEG'4M May 22, 1956 F, MO'RGAN 2,746,507

TRACTION DEVICE AND APPLYING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 16' 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 F P76. 3: 7 e 6 78 a l 74 7 I 99 INVENTOR.

sues/vs Moe 64,

ATTORNEYS May 22, 1956 E. F. MORGAN 2,746,507

TRACTION DEVICE AND APPLYING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 16, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8. 25 FIG 9 'vv"-"'$ m a JNVENTOR. EUGENE F. I MOEGA/V,

May 22, 1956 E. F. MORGAN 2,746,507

TRACTION DEVICE AND APPLYING MEANS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 16, 1953 INVENTOR.

EUGENE E. MOQGAM WW WMa/rz TRAtITION DEVICE AND APPLYING MEANS THEREFOR Eugene F. Morgan, Paonia, Colo.; Marjorie Morgan Decker, administratrix of said Eugene F. Morgan, deceased Application October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,522

4 Claims. (Cl. 152--214) This invention relates to traction devices for the tires of the driving wheels of automotive vehicles and more particularly to an arrangement wherein the traction devices are normally stored in receptacles provided in. the associated vehicle fenders, or otherwise mounted on the vehicle adjacent the drive wheels thereof, and are applied to the corresponding drive wheels and removed from the drive wheels and returned to the storage receptacles by rotation of the drive wheels.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved arrangement for anti-skid or traction devices for the drive wheels of automotive vehicles which includes receptacles provided in the associated vehicle fenders, or otherwise mounted on the vehicle if the vehicle is not equipped with rear fenders, and in which the traction devices are stored when not in use; which includes manually operated remote control means for engaging the traction devices with the corresponding vehicle tires when it is desired to apply the traction devices to the tires so that the vehicle operator does not have to leave the drivers compartment of the vehicle or touch the tires or traction devices in order to apply or remove the devices; which includes flexible traction devices adapted to extend around the peripheral or tread surfaces of the associated tires and which are provided with automatic and adjustable connection means for securing the traction devices tightly around the tires; which includes traction elements of novel construction constituting parts of the traction devices; and which includes operator control means for automatically removing the traction devices from the associated vehicle tires and returning the traction devices to the corresponding receptacles.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an automotive vehicle with a portion broken away to show the application of a traction device storage receptacle thereto and a traction device received in the receptacle;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the traction device mounted on the associated wheel instead of being stored in the storage receptacle;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale similar to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal, medial cross sectional view of a traction device constituting a component of the assembly;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 6; V

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar v ted States Patent 0 to Figure 6 but showing a different portion of the traction device;

Figure 10 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the manner in which traction elements are mounted in the traction device;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a remote control assembly for applying the traction devices to the vehicle tires and removing the traction devices from the tires;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 13-13 of Figure 2; and

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of the interengaging means of the device with the band of the device shown fragmentarily and portions thereof broken away to clearly show structure of elements of the assembly.

With continued reference to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show the rear portion 10 of an automotive vehicle including a rear fender 11 and a drive wheel 12 mounted within the rear fender and equipped with a pneumatic tire 13. It is to be understood of course that there are two rear fenders disposed at respectively opposite sides of the rear portion of the vehicle and two rear drive wheels also disposed at the respectively opposite sides of the vehicle and disposed one Within each of the rear fenders.

An elongated and longitudinally curved receptacle 14 is provided within the rear fender 11 and extends around the ends and along the upper portions of the fender, this receptacle, as illustrated in Figure 13, comprising a strip of sheet metal transversely formed to a flattened C cross sectional shape having a continuous wall along its outer side, transversely curved end portions, and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall and constituted by flanges 15 and 16 extending inwardly from the side or end walls of the receptacle and having their adjacent edges spaced apart to provide a slot extending longitudinally of the inner wall of the receptacle and medially of the width of such inner wall. Strips 17 and 18 of flexible material, such as rubber, are secured to the outer surfaces of the flanges 15 and 16 respectively and have their inner edges juxtaposed and between the spaced apart edges of the flanges 15 and 16 to provide flexible flaps normally closing the slot between the opposed edges of the flanges to exclude dirt, mud, snow and other wheel projected material from the interior of the receptacle.

A traction device, generally indicated at 20, is received and normally stored in the receptacle 14, it being understood that there is a similar receptacle in the other rear fender and a similar traction device normally stored in such other receptacle. It is to be further understood that in the case of a vehicle, such as a truck, not equipped with rear fenders, the receptacles may be secured to the vehicle in surrounding relationship to the upper portions of the vehicle drive wheels rather than being placed inside of the vehicle rear fenders, as illustrated in the drawings.

The traction device 20 comprises an elongated band 21 of resiliently elastic material, such as vulcanized rubber, preferably reinforced by suitable means, such as the vice is mounted on a tire, to maintain the traction device.

properly centered on the tread surface of the tire. The band including the flange or head formations has an outside or total width somewhat greater than the width of the tread surface of the tire, as is illustrated in Figure 7.

Traction elements, as generally indicated at 25, are mounted in the band 21 at locations spaced apart both circuinferentially and transversely of the band and the preferred construction of these traction elements is illustrated in Figures 9, l0, and 11.

Each of the traction elements 25 comprises a cup 26 of square or rectangular shape provided by first forming a sheet metal blank. of cruciform shape and then bending up the end portions or tabs of the blank to provide side walls 27 extending one along each edge of the center portion of the blank and disposed substantially perpendicular to the center portion. A backing plate 28 of square or rectangular shape is secured to the outer surface of the bot tom wall of the cup 26 and extends marginally outwardly of the side walls of the cup. A plurality of steel wire lengths 39 are disposed in the cup 26 and have their ends adjacent the bottom wall of the cup permanently and rigidly secured to this bottom wall by suitable means, such as welding or brazing, the wire lengths constituting, in eifect, bristles of a brush-like device. The rubber band 21 is provided with holes of square or rectangular shape, as indicated at 31, dimensioned to closely receive the cups 26 of the corresponding traction element and a cup is inserted through each of the holes 31 with the marginal portion of the backing plate 28 hearing against the inner surface of the band 21 surrounding the corresponding opening and the side wall flanges 27 extending through the opening and outwardly of the outer surface of the band. The outer portions of the flanges are then bent outwardly, as indicated at 32, to provide outwardly directed flanges which clamp the portion of the band 21 around the corresponding hole 31 between the marginal portion of the backing plate 28 and the outwardly extending flange portions of the side walls 27 to firmly and permanently secure the traction elements in place in the flexible band.

A fastening device, as generally indicated at 35, is secured to the band 21 at the ends of the band and is effective to secure the band tightly around the associated tire when the traction device is applied to a tire.

The connecting means 35 comprises two separable parts 36 and 37 one of which is connected to one end and the other Qf which is connected to the other end of the band 21 and which are releasably locked together when the band is secured around an associated tire. The fastener portion 36 comprises a longitudinally curved plate 40 of elongated, rectangular shape having on one end an extension which is embedded in the material of the band 21 at the corresponding end of the band. The plate 40 extends outwardly from the corresponding end of the band symmetrically of the width of the band and the band 21 is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 41 along the extent of the plate 40. The recess 41 extends from the inclined rear wall 41 and opens through the adjacent end of the band. Hooks 42 are mounted on the plate 40 at locations spaced apart along the plate and project from the surface of the plate upwardly through the recess 41 perpendicularly to the plane of the outer surface of the plate.

The fastener portion 37 comprises a longitudinally curved plate 44 having an extension embedded in the material of the band 21 at the corresponding end of the band and this plate is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 45 in its inner surface and with spaced apart apertures 46 of rectangular shape extending through the portion of the plate in which the recess 45 is provided at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the plate and which are adapted to receive corresponding hooks 42 of the fastener component 36.

A longitudinally curved tongue structure 48 of elongated, rectangular shape is disposed in the recess 45 in the plate 44 and is pivotally connected at its end remote from are adapted to extend.

the corresponding end of the band 21 upon a pin 48 extending transversely through the plate 44 intermediate the length of the plate. The tongue 48 is of plate construction and has a bore 53 of elongated, rectangular cross sectional shape extending longitudinally therethrough. A latch plate 50 having its forward end 59 folded back upon itself defining a cam follower, as will presently appear, is slidably mounted in the bore 53 of the tongue 48 for movement longitudinally thereof and is also provided with generally rectangular apertures 56 movable into register with similar apertures 48" extending transversely through the tongue 48, and through which the hooks 42 In the latched position, shown in Figure 6, the latch plate 54) has been moved longitudinally of the bore 53 in a direction away from the corresponding end of the band 21 from which the plate 44 extends, under the resilient urging of the springs 51 and 52 carried by the end of the tongue 48 remote from the pivotal connection. The springs 51 and 52 contact shoulders 51 and 52 respectively formed at the other end of the latch plate remote from the forward end 50. Studs 53" hold the respective springs 51 and 52 within spaced bores 53 provided in the end of the tongue 48, with each bore 53' opening at one end into the bore 53 and at the other end through the transverse end of the tongue, as clearly shown in Figure 14. Thus, the transverse edge of each of the apertures 5%)" remote from the end 50' is resiliently urged out of register with the corresponding transverse edge of the apertures 48" and into latching engagement under the shoulders of the respective hooks 42.

The tongue 48 is resiliently urged to move about its pivot 48 to a position relative to the plate 44 at which the tongue is inclined inwardly from the inner surface of the plate and from its pivotal connection with the plate intermediate the length of the plate toward the adjacent end of the band 21, as illustrated in Figure l, for a purpose which will presently appear. Each of the springs 54 and 55 is secured at one end at opposite sides of the plate 44 to be disposed within the recess 45 of this plate and these springs are connected at their other ends to links 56 and 57 respectively which extend from. the ends of the springs 54 and 55 near the pivotal connection between the tongue 48 and the plate 44 to locations at opposite sides of and adjacent the free end of the tongue where they are pivotally connected to the tongue at respectively opposite sides of the tongue, as indicated at 58 and 59.

A latch lever, generally indicated at 60, is pivotally mounted at one end on the plate 44 and has a pair of parallel arms 61'. Each of these arms is provided with a camshaped end portion 61 disposed in the recess 45 and in engagement with the cam follower 50 of the latch plate St The arms 61' are pivotally mounted at their end portions upon pins 61 threadingly carried on opposite sides of the enlarged head portion 44 of the plate 44 with the pins projecting into a recess 44 extending transversely through the plate intermediate the sides thereof. At its other end the lever 60 is provided with a cross bar 62. Spaced collars 63 are carried on and disposed one adjacent each end of the cross bar 62 for a purpose to presently appear. The cross bar end of the lever 60 is receivable in a recess 64 in the outer surface of the enlarged head portion 44 of the plate 44 so that, when the traction dc vice is secured about an associated tire, the lever 60 does not project outwardly of the peripheral surface of the traction device.

A spring clamp 65 is disposed in the band 21 near the end of the band to which the plate 40 is attached and is of U cross sectional shape having its intermediate portion disposed against the inner surface of the band 21 and extending transversely of the band and its longitudinally curved legs 66 and 67 extending from the distal edges of the flange portions 23 and 24 of the band substantially perpendicular to the distal edges of these flange portions. This spring clip is shaped and dimensioned to engagean associated tire 13 and connect one end of gar en?- the traction device 20 to the tire when the traction de-' vice is being applied to the tire in the manner presently to be described. At the front end of the associated fender 11 the receptacle 14 is thickened, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, and is provided with an opening 70 in its inner wall at the corresponding end of the receptacle. A pair of spaced apart guide structures 71 and 72 are provided in the receptacle 14 and extend along and inwardly of the inner wall of the receptacle from the upper end of the opening 70 to a location intermediate the length of the downwardly curved front end of the receptacle and these guide structures comprise sheet metal members of hollow construction and of substantially rectangular cross sectional shape disposed in spaced apart relationship to each other to provide therebetween a space registering with the space between the iner edges of the flange portions 15 and 16 of the inner wall of the receptacle. The outer sides of the guide structures 71 and 72 are longitudinally curved and fiare to the inner surface of the inner wall of the receptacle at both the bottom and top end of the guide structures.

Mechanism for applying the traction device to and removing it from the corresponding tire is disposed in the front end portion of the receptacle 14 and comprises an elongated lever 74 substantially vertically disposed in the front end of the guide structure and having at its upper end an elongated, fiat spring portion 75 which is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the outer wall of the receptacle 14 above the'front end of the receptacle. The spring portion 75 of the lever 74 is longitudinally curved so that its convex surface is forwardly directed and disposed adjacent the outer wall of the associated receptacle and the remainder of the lever is longitudinally curved in a manner such that its convex side is forwardly directed and disposed adjacent the outer wall of the corresponding receptacle. At its lower end the lever 74 is provided with a curved, longitudinally extending slot 76, this portion of the lever being bifurcated to provide two spaced apart branches 77 and 78.

A shaft 80 extends transversely below the vehicle frame forwardly of the front ends of the vehicle rear fenders and is journaled on the frame for rotational movements about its longitudinal center line as an axis. A hand lever 81 is pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the vehicle structure and extends upwardly into the drivers compartment of the vehicle and the lower end of this lever is pivotally connected by a link 82 to the distal end of an arm 83 mounted on and projecting radially from the shaft 80 to impart rotational movements to the shaft 80 upon manual movement of the upper end of the hand lever 81 backwardly and forwardly relative to the vehicle.

Radially projecting arms 84 and 85 are mounted on the shaft 80 at the respectively opposite ends of the shaft and extend downwardly from the shaft, and rods 86 and 87 are pivotally connected at their front ends to the lower, distal ends of the arms 84 and 85 and extend rearwardly from these arms toward the front ends of the corresponding rear fenders of the vehicle. Slide blocks 88 and 89 are slidably mounted in guideways, as indicated at 90, provided in the vehicle structure near the bottom edges of the front ends of the rear fenders of the vehicle and the slide blocks 88 and 89 are slidably mounted one in each of these guideways at the respectively opposite sides of the vehicle for sliding movement longitudinally of the vehicle, these slide blocks being connected at their front ends to the rear ends of the rods 86 and 87 respectively so that they are moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the vehicle by manual operation of the hand lever 81;

Cam plates, as indicated at 90, are mounted one on each of the slide blocks 88 and 89 at the rear ends of the outer sides of the slide blocks and each of these cam plates has therein an elongated slot the front portion of which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center 6 line of the associated slide block and the rear portion of which is rearwardly and upwardly inclined. Also, each slide block has at its rear end a transversely extending pin 91 which is horizontally disposed. The rear end of each slide block is disposed between the branches of the bifurcated lower end of the corresponding lever 74 and the ends of the transverse pin 91 are engaged in the slots 76 in the lower end portions of the branches of the lever so that the lower end of the lever will be moved rearwardly when the associated slide block is moved rearwardly and will be moved forwardly when the associated slide block is moved forwardly by the hand lever 81 in the manner indicated above.

Each of the levers 74 carries on its lower end portion a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel leaf springs, as indicated at 93 and 94. These springs respectively overlie the corresponding branches 77 and 78 of the associated lever and are rigidly connected at their upper ends to the corresponding lever branches by suitable means, such as the rivets indicated at 95 in Figure 3, and these springs are longitudinally curved in a manner such that their lower end portions are spaced rearwardly from the lower end portions of the corresponding lever 74 and are concavely opposed to the convex rear edges of the lower end portions of the lever branches 77 and 78. These leaf springs are also shaped to diverge convexly from each other along their lower end portions.

When the traction member 20 is properly positioned in the corresponding receptacle 14 the spring clip 65 on the front end of the traction member is disposed substantially in the opening at the bottom of the front end of the associated receptacle. In the corresponding lever 74 is forced rearwardly by rearward movement of the connected slide block 88 or 89, the clip 65 will be forced rearwardly through the opening 70 and engaged around the adjacent wheel tire 13. A downwardly and forwardly inclined ramp structure 105 is mounted on the lever 74 at the upper end of the notch between the lever branches 77 and 78 and may conveniently comprise a flat spring plate having a tongue extending downwardly through the upper end of the notch in the lever for a purpose to be presently explained.

A curved closure door 96 is disposed adjacent the bottom front end of the receptacle 14 and is pivotally mounted at its front end on the receptacle by a pivotal mounting 97 located adjacent the bottom corner of the front edge of the associated rear fender 14. An arm 98 inclines upwardly and forwardly from the rear end of the door 96 and carries at its upper end a pin 99 slidably engaged in the slot 100 in the cam plate 90. When the slide block 89 and the associated cam plate are in their forward limiting position, as illustrated in Figure 3, the pin 99 is disposed in the upper end of the slot and the door 96 is closed. When the block 89 and plate 90 are moved rearwardly the pin 99 first slides downwardly along the rearwardly and upwardly inclined portion of the slot 100 fully opening the door 96 and, after the portion of the slot 100 parallel to the longitudinal center line of the slot has been reached by the pin 99 the block 89 and plate 90 move rearwardly without further movement of the door 96. Also, when the block 89 and plate 90 are moved forward again, the pin 99 first rides in the parallel portion of the slot 100 without moving the door and then slides through the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the slot closing the door 96 during the lgalst lpart of the forward motion of the associated slide Operation Assuming that the traction device is disposed in the corresponding receptacle 14 with the spring clip 65 of the traction device disposed in position to pass through the opening 70 at the lower front end of the associated receptacle, and that the driver of the vehicle desires to mount the traction device on the associated wheel tire 13, the

driver will first bring the vehicle to a stop and will then move the hand lever 81 to force the slide block 89 and the associated cam plate 90 rearwardly. The first part of the rearward movement of the cam plate 90 opens the door 96, as explained above, and the remaining portion of the rearward movement of the slide block 89 forces the rear end of the lever 74 rearwardly to a rearward limiting position. The leaf springs 93 and 94 engage the adjacent surface of the front end of the traction device and force this front end of the traction device carrying the spring clip 65 through the opening 70 in the receptacle and force the spring clip into engagement with the associated tire in the manner illustrated in Figure 7. The driver then causes the drive wheel to be rotated in a forward direction at a slow speed and this forward rotation of the Wheel will pull the traction device out of the receptacle 14 and wrap it around the tread surface ofthe-tire. As the two ends of the traction device are brought together the free end of the tongue 48 will ride over some of the hooks 42 and the hooks will extend through registering apertures 48 and 50 with the tongue 48 in its inwardly inclined position relative to the con nector plate 44. As the connector assembly is brought to the bottom of the tire, the pressure of the tire on the plate 36 and plate 44 will force the plates together and, as the tongue 43 is forced into the recess 45 in the plate 44, it will pull the two ends of the traction device together thereby securing the traction device around the tread surface of the tire. When the two plates are forced together the hooks 42 projecting from the plate 36 and extending through corresponding apertures 46 in the plate 44 and through the corresponding apertures 43 and 50" in the tongue 48 and the latch plate 50, the latch plate will be urged by the springs 51 and 52 toward engagement with the shoulders of the hooks to lock the hooks in position and lock the plates 36 and 44 together. At the same time the latch lever 60 will be moved against the plate 44 and its free end will be moved into the recess 64 provided in the outer surface of this plate, the cam ends 61 thereby permitting the latch plate 50 to be moved under the influence of springs 51 and 52 to have the transverse edges of the apertures 50 engage the shoulders of the hooks as previously described. The traction device is now firmly locked upon the associated tire and the hand lever 81 may be moved in a direction to move the slide blocks forwardly to close the door 76 at the bottom, front ends of the receptacle so that mud, snow and ice cannot enter the receptacles.

The vehicle is now ready to proceed with the traction devices in place on the drive wheel tires.

When it is desired to remove the traction devices from the tires, the vehicle is stopped and the hand lever 81 is operated to move the slide blocks and associated cam plates rearwardly first opening the closure doors 96, and then moving the bottom ends of the lever 74 rearwardly until the leaf springs 93 and 94 are brought into engagement with the outer surfaces of the traction devices. The drive Wheels are now rotated slowly in a reverse direction and, as the cross pin 62 on the distal end of the latch lever 60 is moved up to the lower ends of the leaf springs 93 and 94, the collars 63 on the latch lever engage behind the leaf springs and, with continued rotation of the associated wheel, the latch lever is pulled outwardly away from the plate 44. As the lever 60 is pulled outwardly its cam ends 61 move the latch plate 50 in the tongue 4-8 against the'force of the springs 51 and 52 in a direction to move apertures 50" into register with the apertures 48", and the latch plate will move out of latching engagement with the hooks 42 and release the hooks. Continued pull on the latch lever 60 then pulls the plate 44 off of the hooks and separates it from the complementary plate 36 of the connecting assembly. With continued rotation of the wheel in a reverse direction the plate 44 is now guided by the ramp 165 into the front end of the associated receptacle l4 and the traction device is moved into the receptacle until its end carrying the plate44 is disposed substantially at the rear end of the receptacle, as illustrated in Figure 1. As the end of the traction device carrying the plate 36 is moved into the receptacle the spring clip 66 is pulled oif of the tire and remains at the location of the opening 70 in the receptacle.

When the traction devices have been removed from the tires and moved into the corresponding receptacles the hand lever 81 is operated to move the slide blocks and associated cam plates forwardly and to close the doors 96 at the bottoms of the front end of the receptacles to keep the receptacles free of wheel thrown material. The vehicle is now ready to proceed in a forward direction upon reversing the drive to the drive wheels thereof.

The slots provided in the inner wall of each receptacle and covered by the resilient flaps is provided to permit the outer end of the tongue 48 to pass through this slot as the traction device is moved out of or into the associated receptacle.

Within the scope of this invention, it is contemplated that traction elements other than the cups 26 may be employed, such as vulcanizing the bristles into the band 21, and the bristles may be of nylon or other suitable material. Also, when the bristles are vulcanized into the band 21, they need not be in spaced apart groupings but may be in one or more continuous patterns along the band 21.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment of the invention is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an automotive vehicle having a drive wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, an elongated receptacle disposed adjacent the tread surface of said tire and having an opening at one end thereof and in a side thereof nearest said tire, an elongated traction device normally received in said receptacle and including a band of flexible material extending around the tread surface of the associated tire, traction elements carried by said band and a separable connecting assembly including complementary parts secured to the ends of said band, a spring clip secured to said traction device near one end of the latter and movable through said side opening in the receptacle, a first lever disposed in said receptacle at said one end of the receptacle and secured at one end to the receptacle, manually operated means connected to the other end of said lever for moving said spring clip into engagement with the tire to enable said tire to pull said traction device out of said receptacle and wrap the device about the tire, said connecting assembly including a second lever effective to release the complementary parts of the assembly from each other when the secondlever is pulled outwardly from the assembly, and the first lever disposed in said receptacle having resilient means thereon which engages the second lever included in said connector assembly to pull the last-mentioned lever outwardly from the associated connector assembly while said traction device is mounted on the associated tire, said first lever disposed in the receptacle being moved to its limiting extent toward the tire, and the tire being rotated in reverse direction.

2. In combination with an automotive vehicle having a drive wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, an elongated receptacle disposed adjacent the tread surface of said tire and having an opening at one end thereof and in a side thereof nearest said tire, an elongated traction device normally received in said receptacle and including a band of fiexible material adapted to extend around the tread surface of the associated tire, traction elements carried by said band and a separable connecting assembly including complementary parts secured to the ends of said band, a spring clip secured to said fraction device near one end of the latter and movable through said side opening in the receptacle, a lever disposed in said receptacle at said one end of the receptacle and secured at one end to the receptacle, manually operated means connected to the other end of said lever for moving said other end of the lever toward the associated tire and moving said spring clip into engagement with the tire to enable said tire to pull said traction device out of said receptacle and wrap the device about the tire, a door pivotally mounted on said receptacle and movable into and out of closing relationship with said one end of the receptacle, and means connecting said manually operated means to said door for opening said door when said manually operated means is moved in a direction to apply said traction device to or remove it from the associated tire and to close said door when said manually operated means is moved in the opposite direction.

3. A traction device for an automotive vehicle pneumatic tire comprising a band of flexible material having a width at least as great as the width of the tread surface of the associated tire and a length substantially equal to the circumference of said tread surface and having bead formations extending one along each side edge thereof for engagement with the side surfaces of the tread portion of the tire, traction elements secured to said band at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the band and projecting outwardly of the outer surface of the band, and a fastening assembly including a first elongated plate secured to one end of said band and extending longitudinally from said one end, hooks mounted on said one plate at locations spaced apart longitudinally of the latter and projecting from the outer surface thereof, a second elongated plate wider than said first plate secured to the other end of said band and extending longitudinally from said other end, said second plate having therein a longitudinally extending recess receiving said first plate and hook receiving apertures in the recess portion thereof, a tongue disposed at the inner side of and pivotally connected at one end to said second plate, means resiliently holding said tongue in position inclined inwardly of said second plate and toward said other end of the band whereby when said first plate is forced into the recess in said second plate the distal end of said tongue will engage one of said hooks and force said first plate longitudinally of said second plate toward said other end of the band, said tongue having hook-receiving apertures therein and including a slidable latch plate resiliently urged into locking engagement with hooks extending through apertures in said tongue, and a latch lever pivotally mounted at one end on said second plate and engaging said latch plate to release said latch plate from the hooks engaged thereby and pull said second plate away from said first plate when the distal end of said latch lever is pulled outwardly from said plate.

4. In combination with an automotive vehicle having a drive wheel equipped with a pneumatic tire, an elongated receptacle extending about the upper portion of said tire, said receptacle having an opening in one end thereof adjacent the forward portion of said tire, a flexible traction device normally stored in extended relation within said receptacle, a tire engaging clamp fixedly carried by one end of said device adjacent said opening, means carried by said receptacle adjacent said opening and operatively connected to said clamp for movement thereof into frictional engagement with the forward portion of said tire, remote control means operatively connected to said first mentioned means for causing movement of said clamp into frictional engagement with said tire to permit withdrawal of said device from said receptacle to be wrapped about said tire upon forward rotation of said wheel, and interengageable means carried by said one end of said device and the other end thereof for securing said device on said tire, a normally closed door carried by said receptacle adjacent said opening for movement into and out of closing relation with said opening, means operatively connected to said remote control means and said door and extending therebetween for moving said door, upon actuation of said remote control means, into opening relation to permit movement of said clamp therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,135,183 Hewitt Apr. 13, 1915 1,611,279 Ramsburg Dec. 21, 1926 1,981,291 Thomas Nov. 20, 1934 2,473,249 Hershman June 14, 1949 2,571,020 Earl Oct. 9, 1951 2,608,234 Hughes Aug. 26, 1952 

